Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! Parks and Natural Hazards

Transcription

1 Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! Parks and Natural Hazards DATE AND TIME Tuesday 23 February 2010 / 1PM-2PM and 215PM-315PM SPEAKER(S) Amanda Smith Megan Gutierrez Superintendent of Education and Naturalist Natural Resources Cool Creek Nature Center Cool Creek Nature Center East 151 st Street East 151 st Street Carmel, IN Carmel, IN megan.gutierrez@hamiltoncounty.in.gov amanda.smith@hamiltoncounty.in.gov SESSION DESCRIPTION For our local parks, the Wizard of Oz line should read poison ivy, stinging nettles, bee stings, oh my! The outdoors is fraught with nature nasties, but with an ounce of prevention and education, you can help protect your patrons and your employees from ugly encounters. Help your visitors get over the fears and barriers to getting out in the parks through understanding the perceptions, problems and solutions presented by natural hazards. (1PM) Presenters Amanda Smith and Megan Gutierrez discussed many nasties which park visitors may not have much education about and which may inhibit guests from coming out to the park system. Poison ivy topped the list of the

2 nasties and the presenters taught how to identify the plant (leaves of three let it be, berries of white run in fright, etc.), discussed why poison ivy affects the skin and various ways to treat a poison ivy rash (including using jewelweed). Other plants discussed were poison oak and poison sumac as well as stinging nettles. The next critters on the list were chiggers and ticks. The presenters talked about where these arachnids are found most commonly and how they attack humans. They spoke about how to deal with these little problems, how to treat as well as how to avoid, and how to identify the different variety of ticks. The next topic was venomous snakes, identification of the snakes, where they are most commonly found, and how they act when agitated. The brown recluse and the black widow spider also made the list of nasties and attendees were advised on where to find these spiders and how to identify them (though it was noted that if you were close enough to clearly identify one, you were probably a little too close for comfort). Different varieties of bees wrapped up the list. The presenters spoke about the different kinds of bees found in parks and which bees were considered a danger to sting and which ones were innocuous. (215PM) This session covered the basics of natural hazards and nuisances such as poison ivy, stinging nettle, chiggers, mosquitoes, bees, hornets, ticks, venomous snakes, and spiders. Amanda Smith showed how to identify the hazards, and detailed the mechanisms that made each hazard harmful. She also listed proper and improper treatment for each hazard. A key theme in the session was proactive treatment rather than reactive treatment. She emphasized taking the necessary precautions to mitigate possible interactions with the hazards (bug sprays, long pants, etc.), especially by those who might be prone to extreme reactions, rather than finding the best way to relieve the nasty side effects after an encounter. SESSION LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify natural hazards common to parks in the Great Lakes region. Address the public s negative perception of these hazards by developing techniques for preventing encounters with natural hazards in your park, and educating the public as to the benefits of nature in general.

3 Nature s Nasties Learning, understanding, and coping with the things that may keep users out of our parks. Education + Understanding=power over fear Presenters: Amanda Smith & Megan Gutierrez Hamilton County Parks & Recreation Naturalists Indiana Leaves of 3; let it be Leaves of 3; let it be Berries of white; run in fright Leaves of 3; let it be Berries of white; run in fright Hairy vine; no friend of mine 1

4 Poison Ivy, Toxicodendron radicans Member of the Cashew Family (poison oak, poison sumac, mangos) Urushiol Oil (clear, colorless sap) Poison Ivy Fact or Fiction? Red stem and/or red dot Can you be immune? 1 out of 10 odds Leaves are shaped like a mitten stay back Can stay active for pretty much ever ¼ ounce is all that is needed to cause a rash on everyone on earth! Benefits Burning can cause a reaction The oil can stay on your clothing for years Scratching will cause it to spread Treating Poison Ivy Wash exposed area within 1-30 minutes Cold/Cool Water: Creek, hose, shower Hot water opens pores Mild soap Jewelweed Wash clothing, tools, equipment, pets and/or shoes that came in contact with plants Other Nasty Plants Poison Oak Not found in Indiana (really!) Poison Sumac Chiggers Member of the Arachnid family; adults have 8 legs/larva only have 6 Only larva feed on flesh; nymphs & adults do not Microscopic 1/125-inch Benefits 2

5 Chiggers, Toxicodendron radicans Also called jiggers, redbugs, & harvest mites Chigger s MO Can be found in any natural area concentration in areas-none a few yards away Chigger s MO Larva are on the move and will quickly find a new object in their area Can move rapidly can get all over a person s body in 15 minutes 5000 x its body size (like climbing a mt.) Chigger s MO Find a tender spot to dine thin skin, wrinkled anatomy like armpits, elbow folds, behind the knee, waist band Chiggers Suck! (not burrow) pierce the host skin, inject an anticoagulant & an enzyme to liquefy skin cells Women and children tend to get bitten more than men Stylostome: hard tube-like structure formed by your body as a reaction to the digestive saliva walls off the corrosive saliva, but also functions like a feeding tube Longer the chigger is attached=the longer the stylostome=the MORE ITCHING Avoiding Chiggers They are most active in the afternoons ground temps b/t 77 to 86 degrees Inactive when temps fall below 60 degrees They avoid objects hotter than 99 degrees Tuck pants legs inside boots Bug spray (reapply in 2 to 3 hours 10% for children / 30% for adults Cuffs, waistbands, boot tops Powdered Sulphur 3

6 Coping with Chiggers When you get home, take off clothes and wash them Take a warm, soapy bath with lots of scrubbing Will remove attached chiggers and those looking to attach Use a towel or cloth to rub off chiggers in target areas if bathing isn t possible Coping with Chiggers (what not to do) DO NOT use household chemicals like fingernail polish, alcohol, bleach Lotions, antihistamines, and steroid creams can help relieve pain Only true cure is time The stylostome can take weeks to break down and absorb into the body Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica Common in moist woods and thickets can grow 6 feet tall Genus name means to burn Stinging Hairs on stem and leaf edges Hollow tubes with wall of silica=tiny glass needles pressurized base of the tube contains stinging liquid formic acid histamine acetylcholine serotonin Treating Stinting Nettle Treat area with cool, clean water Jewelweed is a great local treatment Avoid shorts Stay on the trail; avoid edges 4

7 Ticks Member of the Arachnid family; adults have 8 legs/larva only have 6 Can not fly; can only crawl Lie in wait on vegetation like grasses & shrubs Benefits? Deer Tick or Black Legged Tick can be found in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and the Pacific 5

8 Brown Dog Tick Also known as the kennel tick Mainly feeds on dogs can live out its life cycle inside homes American Dog Tick Also known as the wood tick can transmit Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever Female Male Lone Star Tick Commonly mistaken for the Deer tick Left to right: nymph, female, male Avoiding Ticks Choose light-colored clothing Spot check your group often Stay on the trails and in the center avoid brushing up against plants Ticks are active on winter days ground temps around 45 degrees Bug spray (reapply in 2 to 3 hours) 10% for children / 30% for adults Cuffs, waistbands, boot tops Getting Rid of ticks Wear latex/vinyl gloves If found crawling on you Use the back side of tape to grab it If found embedded Use tweezers to remove don t screw; pull straight out Don t use gasoline, matches, cigarettes, fingernail polish or other old-timey removal methods Clean your skin & save tick in plastic bag Venomous Snakes All four venomous Snakes found in this area are considered rare Identification of a venomous snake Triangular shaped head Elliptical shaped pupil Benefits 6

9 Copperhead Probably the most common of the venomous snakes in our area Can be found in most any environment prefer waterways, viney areas Snake responsible for most venomous bites in US Have the mildest venom An agitated Copperhead will vibrate its tail In the same family as the Cottonmouth Natural coloration makes the snake extremely hard to detect!!! Eastern Massasagua (Rattlesnake) State endangered in Indiana Also called the Pygmy Rattlesnake prefers wet prairie, swamps and wetlands Timber Rattlesnake State endangered in Indiana Prefers heavily forested areas and rocky hillsides Coloration is highly variable from sulfur yellow to brown, gray or black Will typically only bite if stepped on picked up Not aggressive Venom is more toxic than other rattlesnakes, but it only injects a small amount 7

10 Eastern Cottonmouth State endangered in Indiana Only one confirmed/documented observation in Indiana (unexplained) Range primarily southern Prefers aquatic habitat Can live up to 20 years Not aggressive-most bites are due to people picking them up Commonly confused with the non-venomous Northern Water Snake Can be aggressive when encountered So long as you are mindful of the inherent dangers associated with your surroundings, you will be able to avoid them. (As opposed to this idiot) *SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT* C.A.D.E.S. Spiders Almost all spiders are considered venomous (only two families lack venom glands) Midwest has two spiders that are medically significant Benefits Brown Recluse Also called the fiddleback spider As name suggests, this spider is very reclusive Will only bite when disturbed Primarily nocturnal Sheltered areas with low moisture levels; homes are common sites within their range 8

11 Has 3 sets of 2 eyes There are many look-a-likes Wolf Spider Nursery Web spider Fishing Spiders Cellar Spiders Black Widow Spider Most commonly found in the south 5 species (2 common Northern and Southern) The female will often eat the male after mating Will only bite when disturbed or when protecting her egg sack Black Willow Spider Found in almost every state and in Canada Small dwellings, confined spaces, wood piles, storage containers Web is a tangled and misshaped Males are harmless Venom is 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake, but fatalities are rare Small children and the elderly are more susceptible to major complications Venom is a neurotoxin Will block transmission of nerve impulses Muscle aches, nausea, & difficulty breathing Typically two puncture marks will be visible Honey Bees Hives are located in hollow trees, cavities, or beekeeper box Also build hives underground Can only sting once They will defend a hive Females may over winter in the hive 9

12 Carpenter Bees Are considered wood destroying insects Drill small 3/8 hole with their mandibles Resemble bumble bees, but lack the fuzzy abdomen Males don t have stingers, female can sting, but rarely do they act aggressive Over winter in wood Bumble Bees Primary pollinator of spring wildflowers Social; nest in existing cavities on or under the ground abandoned mouse nests or anything with soft materials Very rarely aggressive Fertilized Queens survive the winter Bald-faced Hornets Basketball sized nest made by chewing tiny amounts of wood Can sting multiple times Extremely painful sting Nests might not need removed, they generally are not overly aggressive Queens over winter Beneficial because they catch other insects Paper Wasps Unprotected combs built in attics, eaves, old cars Can sting multiple times Not as aggressive in comparison Female over winters Yellow Jackets or Ground bees Hives underground 2 inches to 2 feet underground Use abandoned rodent burrows Multiple sting AGGRESSIVE; especially late summer/early fall Eat meats, sweets, ripe fruit, & garbage 10

13 Mud Dauber Wasp Ichneumon Wasp Cicada Killer Wasp 11